'Ugly Betty' Crew Members Appeal Against Production Move - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-09-2008, 12:02 AM

Furious crew members on sitcom Ugly Betty are protesting the loss of hundreds of jobs on the hit TV show, when production moves from Los Angeles to New York City.

Plans to transfer the program's production to the Big Apple were announced on Tuesday, but 300 people who currently contribute to the making of the program - ranging from the dry cleaners and caterers to the construction firms - have slammed the show's bosses for the move. And they are making their feelings known by taking out a full-page advert in Hollywood's top trade paper Variety, hitting out at the shock decision, which aims to take advantage of New York's new tax credits for Hollywood productions.

The disgruntled staff have all rallied together to raise the cash for the eye-catching ad, in which they write an open letter addressed to Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other local authorities to help stop the loss of more business. The letter reads: "We are writing to you because we just lost our jobs. We are the 300 plus members of the crew of the television show Ugly Betty. We were informed this Tuesday that the production of our show is moving to New York primarily because of the 35 per cent tax incentives being offered by the state of New York."

"Instead of making good wages and paying our fair share of California state income tax, we will all be collecting Unemployment Benefits. In addition, we will certainly be cutting our spending back to the bone, which will not only cut back our sales tax contributions substantially, but it could end up costing the jobs of the people who provide services and products to us. Not only are these crew positions being lost; all of our local vendors are losing our business..."

"So, while the loss of our individual positions may be insignificant, the loss of this production is staggering. Now multiply this by all the other productions going to New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina and other states with incentives, not to mention Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Eastern Europe, etc. and the cost to the California state economy is monumental. We implore you to do everything in your power to level the playing field and bring our jobs back to California by enacting meaningful incentives to keep film and television production in our state."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Coffeecup · 06-04-2008, 10:36 PM

what's the reason for the move? I could understand if the most of cast lived in the northeast. Remember Kate and Allie? That was one show that was filmed there. It seems back in the old days many shows were done in New York . But now so much done in Sunny California this seems likea step back. Maybe it is cheaper.

05-09-2008, 12:02 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	'Ugly Betty' Crew Members Appeal Against Production Move Furious crew members on sitcom Ugly Betty are protesting the loss of hundreds of jobs on the hit TV show, when production moves from Los Angeles to New York City. Plans to transfer the program's production to the Big Apple were announced on Tuesday, but 300 people who currently contribute to the making of the program - ranging from the dry cleaners and caterers to the construction firms - have slammed the show's bosses for the move. And they are making their feelings known by taking out a full-page advert in Hollywood's top trade paper Variety, hitting out at the shock decision, which aims to take advantage of New York's new tax credits for Hollywood productions. The disgruntled staff have all rallied together to raise the cash for the eye-catching ad, in which they write an open letter addressed to Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other local authorities to help stop the loss of more business. The letter reads: "We are writing to you because we just lost our jobs. We are the 300 plus members of the crew of the television show Ugly Betty. We were informed this Tuesday that the production of our show is moving to New York primarily because of the 35 per cent tax incentives being offered by the state of New York." "Instead of making good wages and paying our fair share of California state income tax, we will all be collecting Unemployment Benefits. In addition, we will certainly be cutting our spending back to the bone, which will not only cut back our sales tax contributions substantially, but it could end up costing the jobs of the people who provide services and products to us. Not only are these crew positions being lost; all of our local vendors are losing our business..." "So, while the loss of our individual positions may be insignificant, the loss of this production is staggering. Now multiply this by all the other productions going to New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina and other states with incentives, not to mention Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Eastern Europe, etc. and the cost to the California state economy is monumental. We implore you to do everything in your power to level the playing field and bring our jobs back to California by enacting meaningful incentives to keep film and television production in our state." (This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)
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06-04-2008, 10:36 PM	#2
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	what's the reason for the move? I could understand if the most of cast lived in the northeast. Remember Kate and Allie? That was one show that was filmed there. It seems back in the old days many shows were done in New York . But now so much done in Sunny California this seems likea step back. Maybe it is cheaper.